Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-01-28

strctug and furnishing said building. including
what shall have expended on the same iu my
lifetime. shall not exceed the sum uf fifteen thou
sand dollars
lCOdcil 20 the abpve will
In cas- Of my deceass. before the completion
of said library building / give. and B-urath the
further sum Of seven thousand dollars 90 so much
thereof as NAV le necessary. for the full cumpl,
ton aud furnishing Of said building ia all it, parts
and the grading of the grounds around the sltine.
The will was executed in November. l~-l. aud
the c0dicil was added Dec 9 o. 1881 The will was
pruhated and established jan. %. lSS..
Hon. i. VI. TyIer's Respon-e for the
Library Trustees.
Sir The trustees gratefully accept the
title 20 the library property and assume the
trust imposed upon us los the will of Nh
Brooks which we will endeavur faithfully
to perform. But. sir, while we are sensible
of the honor conferred upon Us toy the ties
tator in selecting us a. his trustees, We real
ize that only the legal title J., deposited in
our hands, while to the inhnhitant, of this
town is given the free use OF the convenient
and beautiful building n long the ,truc.
ture endures Practically the devise Is to
the town of Brattleboru
Our citizens have long felt the need Of
more convenient quarters for "a library and
reading-rooms than those already possessed
and various measures have at different
times been considered with reference to
this object 1t lis known to the personal
friends of Mr. Brooks that. Co meet this
want, ne had for many YEAR cherished the
plan of building library for the benefit of
the town of his adoption ui whose history
he was justly proud and whose Interests he
delighted to promote a little more than
year ago he purchased the ioodhue estate
situated ON the west side of Main street
and soon afterwHrd, IL was publicly an
nounced that he would devote portion of
the land thus purchased 10 the purposes of
a library. plans for which were ERE long
matured He hastened his return from
California last spring III order that lac might
/ PIT the building under contract and, at ~
early u time IL the season would permit he
/ gin its erection lie watched the progress
| of the work with constantly increasing in
| terest, from the laying of the first corner
stone through all its stages of construction
until 1t stood forth at last creation of ar
/ chitectural strength and beauty. almost
completed and ready for it, purpose. and
| he looked forward 60 the time. already ap-
/ pointed, when he would stand ia this place.
/ and. in the happiest hour Of his life. u the
fultillment Of ms long cherished plan. conse-
| crate 1t To- the use Of his fellow -toWnsuen
! forever.
Great as was Mr. Brooks satisfaction In
erecting the library building, he anticipated
even greater pleasure when be- should see
the people in the full enjoyment of his gift
and. while all hearts are filled with pro
found sorrow that he was not permitted t.
/ enter into this land of promise We are sin
cerely grateful thnt ms plan Is being carried
10 it, contamination. that though he has
gone TO his rest, his great gift remains
Our friend builded better than he knew
for, in erecting tins library for his towns
men. he has builded III their hearts an EN-
during monument 10 his memory
We accept the title 10 tins building a. 90
dedication of 1t 10 books and education. It,
foundations have been securely laid Brick
upon brick, stone upon stone, IL mas slow lv
risen, taking granite from the hills of our
own county for strength. and redwood
from the distant Pacific slope for beauty
Surely no better gift could be made 20 a
town than one that helps the intellectual and
moral development Of its people As Prof
Lowell lately said, The riches of scholar
ship. the benignities OF literature defy for
tune and outlive calamity They are br-
yond the reach of thief. or moth. or rust
As they cannot be inherited so they cannot
Ice alienated but they may be shared they
may be distributed and II Is the object and
office of free public library o. perform
these benehcent functions
As the terms of the will imply, the town
is to maintain this building and furnish it
with books, the testatoT and the town thu
uniting IN II benefaction 70 the people.
We have great pride, a. citizens, IN the
beauty of our villages, the picturesquenes,
of our scenery and our material prosperity
We dedicate this library 10 better thing,
than these If 1t shall prove for III an ia
SEPARATION and II guide to higher mental at
tainments to broader life, then shall the
will Of Mr.. Brooks toe carried out IN spirit
and IN letter
Dr. HOItsu's Response for the Inhabi
tRntH.
In coming here this evening to speak foi
the inhabitants of Brattleboro am filled
with the conflicting emotions of grief am
JOY. When the arrangements for this oc
casion were made we expected 20 come I,
a joyful thanksgiving, with gala attire
bringing laurel and holly with which 10 dee.
crate our friend and benefactor Instead
we have come, clad in the sable garment,
of mourning, and the friend We would hav,
honored is not here.
I'm winters killing frost
The message came as passed away
The friend our town has lost
Still Father, IN thy love VT trust.
Forgive Us II We mourn
The saddening hour that laid In dust
His robe Of flesh outworn.
We have, sir, only u recall "a very few
wears of the past 10 arrive at the time " hei
Brattleboro had no Free Public Library
For many years a private organization la,
maintained library for its membership
} and the question of making il free 10 tn
public had been agitated IN a feeble way
IL was, however only when a man cam,
u our midst whose heart was fired witt
, love for his fellow man, and an enthusiasm
, which was destined 10 overcome all ohsta
. Giles, that the necessary steps were taken q
, give 10 the inhabitants of this town a fire.
library. While many were found ready L
come forward and help roll the obstacle
away, it is IA fact in our history that for tn
, establishment Of this public institution a.
} are indebted To the Rev Dr. George b. Go,
, more than 10 any other one man
On the return Of Mr. Brooks from Cali
fornia in the spring of 1882, he espresso
g much pleasure that at last Brattleboro ha
a library
! With a common interest in this institution
a friendship was cemented between thes
/ two men with philanthropic hearts, Will
their many conversations and the constan
/, presence of the free library AS AN inspira
ton, finally eliminated in undertaking tn
4 shadowy idea which for years had been qui
city possessing the soul of George j Brook
/ and has resulted in the erection of IA build
I ing complete in itself and elegant i'm its al
p pointments Today it swings wide its door
d and opens 10 the free library home fror
which its books may go forth as ministern
b angels, seeking to elevate, instruct an
amuse.
p Now, who are they who are 10 partcpat
D. in these ministrations
First, the small army of children fror
our public schools who will seek here tina
y collateral reading which, when properly d
$ rected, becomes an aid of such wonderfl
5 power in their education, rendering broade
e and deeper the foundation upon which thei
o liiework is 10 be built
These are closely followed by the larg
class Of our young and vigorous citizen,
who have Just donned the harness and ar
e full Of high hopes born of noble ambition
{ yet they seek more of the practical know
2 edge Of life's work and the poetry of it
. NTH ttrhfnlt Al D